The red door opened without a sound.
Black fire drifted from the gap like smoke rising from an extinguished forge, yet it gave off neither heat nor light.
The flames swallowed both, leaving only an unsettling darkness that seemed to drink the colors from the battlefield.
For a single heartbeat, the war stopped.
The chains biting into the First Failure’s flesh ceased tightening.
The silver towers of the Argent Order held their lightning.
The crimson airships circled without firing.
Even the storm serpent coiled around the ancient creature’s wing became strangely still, its countless eyes fixed upon the doorway.
Drake felt the change before he understood it.
It wasn’t fear.
Every instinct he possessed as a Beast Blacksmith whispered the same warning.
Something old had arrived.
A man stepped through the threshold.
He wore a simple black coat instead of armor.
Dark gloves covered his hands, and silver hair rested neatly against his shoulders.
Nothing about him appeared extraordinary.
Yet every ancient beast on the battlefield reacted.
The Arkwhale, circling high above the mountain, released a low, mournful song.
The six-headed dragon beneath Eli stopped beating its wings for a moment before recovering.
Even Ember pressed himself tightly against Drake’s neck, every scale standing on end.
The hatchling had never reacted like this before.
Drake quietly rested a hand over him.
“It’s alright.” The answer came instantly through their Heart Rune.
No.
Not panic.
Certainty.
Danger.
The silver-haired man looked around the battlefield with calm, almost disappointed eyes.
His gaze moved across the Six Orders.
Across the chained First Failure.
Across the burning forests.
Across the shattered cliffs.
Finally…
It settled upon Drake.
Neither of them spoke.
Captain Veller quietly stepped beside Drake, his broken sword still clutched in one hand.
“So…” he muttered, “I assume that’s him.” Drake nodded once.
“Aurelius.” The ancient blacksmith smiled faintly.
“So.” His voice was surprisingly gentle.
“The mountain found another keeper.” Drake tightened his grip around the Origin Hammer.
“You know my name.” “I know every Ashford.” Nothing more.
No explanation.
No greeting.
Only another question left hanging in the air.
The First Failure whimpered.
Its enormous body trembled beneath the chains driven through its forests and mountains.
Thousands of golden eyes slowly turned toward Aurelius.
Then toward Drake.
Then back again.
Confusion.
Pain.
Longing.
The forge-link erupted.
Images flooded Drake’s mind.
A workshop.
Massive hands guiding molten metal.
Gentle laughter.
A hammer striking an anvil.
Then— Pain.
Endless darkness.
Chains.
Loneliness.
The memories vanished before Drake could understand them.
The First Failure cried again.
Father…
Then— Little Creator…
Both thoughts existed together.
Neither replaced the other.
The creature didn’t know which one to follow.
Drake’s chest tightened.
It wasn’t choosing between two masters.
It was choosing between two people it remembered.
Aurelius slowly walked across the First Failure’s living back.
Every step he took caused the giant creature to become quieter.
Not because of commands.
Because it was listening.
Drake noticed something strange.
The Six Orders weren’t attacking him.
Hundreds of elite warriors surrounded the battlefield.
None moved.
Instead, they watched.
Waiting.
As though they had been ordered never to interfere while Aurelius stood upon the mountain.
Captain Veller noticed it too.
“I don’t like this.” “Neither do I.” “They’re afraid.” Drake looked toward him.
“Of him?” Veller nodded.
“Or of what happens if they interrupt him.” Cain suddenly spoke from behind them.
“They never interrupt him.” Drake turned.
Cain’s hollow heartbeat echoed once inside his chest.
“He taught them that lesson long ago.” Aurelius finally stopped walking.
He stood less than thirty meters away.
Close enough for conversation.
Far enough that no one could reach him before he reacted.
His eyes rested briefly upon Cain.
No surprise crossed his face.
No anger.
No approval.
Only quiet observation.
“You survived.” Cain’s damaged hand tightened.
“Barely.” “I expected as much.” Again…
Nothing more.
No accusations.
No attempt to reclaim him.
No commands.
Drake couldn’t understand it.
This was the man who had built Cain.
Who had scarred the First Failure.
Who had nearly destroyed the Beast Blacksmiths.
Yet he behaved as though everyone present were former students returning after a long journey.
It disturbed Drake more than hatred would have.
Aurelius looked toward Eli.
“The Choir found another child.” Eli instinctively tensed.
The six-headed dragon lowered two of its heads protectively around him.
The ancient blacksmith merely nodded once.
“You broke the crown.” Eli didn’t answer.
“You should have.” The boy blinked.
Even Captain Veller frowned.
That wasn’t the response anyone expected.
Drake narrowed his eyes.
“What exactly do you want?” Aurelius looked back at him.
“The same thing I’ve wanted for a very long time.” “And what’s that?” The ancient blacksmith smiled.
“I’ll know when I see it.” The answer irritated Drake.
“Stop speaking in riddles.” “They are only riddles because you lack the missing pieces.” Before Drake could reply— The mountain shook.
One of the crimson chains snapped.
The First Failure cried out.
A massive section of living forest tore free from its shoulder, crashing into the valley below.
Immediately, the Crimson Order fired another volley.
Dozens of burning hooks screamed through the sky.
They struck the ancient beast again.
The First Failure howled.
This time…
Something changed.
Its fear became anger.
Golden roots exploded from beneath its skin.
Entire cliffs burst apart.
The nearest Crimson airship failed to retreat in time.
Roots pierced its hull.
The vessel folded in half.
Fire consumed it before it fell into the valley.
The battle resumed.
Lightning crashed from the Argent towers.
The storm serpent tightened around the creature’s wing.
The White Choir resumed its hymn.
Every Order attacked simultaneously.
The battlefield dissolved into chaos once again.
Only Aurelius remained perfectly still.
He watched.
Nothing more.
Drake realized something.
“You’re not here to help them.” “No.” “You’re not here to help the First Failure.” “No.” “Then why come?” Aurelius’s answer came after a long silence.
“To observe.” “Observe what?” “You.” The word hung between them.
Drake’s grip tightened.
“I’m not interested in being studied.” “That has never stopped the world.” Ember growled loudly.
Blue sparks escaped between the hatchling’s teeth.
Aurelius looked at him for the first time.
His expression became thoughtful.
“So.” he murmured.
“It chose a dragon.” Drake immediately stepped half a pace forward.
“What do you mean?” The ancient blacksmith ignored the question.
Instead…
He looked directly at Ember.
“Do you remember the fire?” Ember froze.
Drake felt it through their bond.
Confusion.
The hatchling’s Heart Rune flickered.
For just an instant— A strange image flashed through the forge-link.
A sea of blue flames.
An enormous forge.
Someone laughing.
Then— Nothing.
The memory disappeared before Drake could grasp it.
Ember shook his head violently.
Gone.
Drake looked sharply toward Aurelius.
“What did you do?” “I asked a question.” “You knew that would happen.” “I suspected.” Another incomplete answer.
Another mystery.
Drake was beginning to understand.
Aurelius never lied.
He simply refused to explain.
That made every conversation with him exhausting.
A roar split the battlefield.
The First Failure’s left arm finally broke free from the storm serpent’s coils.
The enormous limb swung wildly.
Entire mountains shattered beneath the impact.
The serpent hissed in fury and lunged again.
The six-headed dragon beneath Eli growled in response.
Rage wanted to join the battle.
Fear wanted to retreat.
Peace struggled to keep the body balanced.
Eli rested both hands against the crowns.
“We have to help it.” Captain Veller looked toward the raging battlefield.
“Any suggestions?” Drake stared at the First Failure.
Something felt wrong.
Not with the beast.
With the battle itself.
He watched carefully.
The Crimson Order attacked the shoulders.
The Argent Order targeted the joints.
The White Choir suppressed its Heart.
The Storm Order restrained its wings.
Every attack landed on a different part of the body.
Not random.
Coordinated.
“They’re herding it…” Drake whispered.
Veller frowned.
“Herding?” “They’re forcing it somewhere.” He followed the direction of every assault.
Every explosion.
Every chain.
Every lightning strike.
All of them gradually pushed the gigantic creature toward— The red door.
Drake’s eyes widened.
“They’re not trying to kill it.” Captain Veller followed Drake’s gaze.
“…They’re driving it.” Aurelius said nothing.
But…
For the first time since emerging from the doorway— The faint smile disappeared from his face.
That tiny change told Drake everything.
Whatever the Six Orders intended…
It wasn’t part of Aurelius’s plan.
And for the first time since the ancient blacksmith appeared…
Drake saw something unexpected in his eyes.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Concern.
Very slight.
Gone almost immediately.
But Drake saw it.
Which meant one thing.
Someone besides Aurelius had begun moving pieces across the board.
And even he hadn’t expected it.
End of Chapter 12 – Part 1